Physiology and Biochemistry of Bacterial Phospholipid Metabolism

Abstract

Publisher Summary The chapter presents the physiology and biochemistry of bacterial phospholipid metabolism. The major phospholipids characterized from a variety of microorganisms are given. The lipids of bacteria are predominately comprised of phospholipids, which are localized almost exclusively in the cell membranes. Biosynthesis of phospholipids is catalyzed by integral membrane proteins. The distribution of the membrane-associated proteins catalyzing biosynthesis of bacterial phospholipids remains less well resolved. The random distribution of phospholipid biosynthetic enzymes throughout the membrane offers as feasible an alternative as multiple sites of synthesis localized in specific regions of the membrane. The biological membrane is composed basically of phospholipids organized into a lipid bilayer with interdispersed proteins. Chemical labeling of membrane-localized, phospholipids can be accomplished with such membrane penetrating probes as 1-fluoro- 2,4-dinitrobenzene and acetic anhydride, which react with aminophospholipids. Biosynthesis of microbial phospholipids is discussed. Because the lipid components of most membranes appear in a metabolically dynamic state, catabolism must be considered an important aspect of lipid metabolism.